GPJA #472: Anti-GCSB meeting Monday 19th – Funds needed

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 472, AUGUST 10, 2013

URGENT Appeal for donations to pay for Town Hall Hire:

The GCSB Public meeting in the Town Hall will cost6 close to $7,000 for the venue alone – $4500 +GST for basic hire and $1750 + GST for compulsory security, ushers and sound.

We collected $3000 on the GCSB March but we urgently need $4,000 which must be paid BEFORE the meeting. Can you help?

Donations can be direct credited to:

Global Peace and Justice Auckland

Account Number 38-9000-0099726-00

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

Sunday, August 11, 5pm, Auckland Domain Wintergarden

Hiroshima Day Commemoration: you are warmly invited to attend a Candle Floating Ceremony to remember those who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a result of the atomic bombs dropped on their cities at the end of the Second World War. The programme includes crane-making, music and candle-floating (candles will be supplied), WILPF members will be speaking about the present situation regarding nuclear testing and particularly about what is happening in the Pacific, and there will also be an opportunity for others to speak. From 5pm to 7pm at the Auckland Domain Wintergarden; organised by WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom) Tamaki Makaurau. RSVP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1388288251394363

Monday, August 12, 3-4.30pm, West Foyer, Executive Wing (Beehive), Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

Forum at Parliament highlights concerns over carers law. Family care, discrimination and the law forum. Who: Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty, Paul Gibson, (current Disability Commissioner), Rachel Noble, (Chief Executive of the Disabled Persons Assembly), and Roger Palairet (Carers New Zealand). Earlier this year, the National Government forced a Bill through the House discriminating against citizens wishing to launch legal challenges on human rights issues, specifically issues around disability and family care. The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Act (No 2) caps the number of families who can be paid for providing care for family members, denies spouses rights to be paid, and specifically prevents anyone taking these issues back to court for justice. The Bill was a response to successful court actions against the Ministry Health ban on paying family members caring for disabled adults. The Green Party is hosting a forum looking at how this unfair law came to pass and what can be done about it. The forum is this Monday, August 12 at Parliament with speakers from legal and disability issues backgrounds. Professor Andrew Geddis has spoken out strongly on the legal discrimination issues, Paul Gibson, the Disability Commissioner, has led the Human Rights Commission response, Rachel Noble, Chief Executive of the Disabled Persons Assembly, will speak about the impact on disabled people and Roger Palairet, of Carers New Zealand, will give the carers’ organisation perspective. For more information: Catherine Delahunty MP, 021 242 1967, Kevin List, Political & Media Advisor, 04 817 6849, 027 4266 975.

Tuesday, August 13, 1pm, Parnell Trust Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland

Women’s Health Action, Counselling Services Centre, HELP, Rape Prevention Education and Tu Wahine Trust invite you to the annaul Cartwright Seminar, ‘One in a Hundred: Improving Justice for sexual violence survivors’ on Tuesday, August 13th from 1pm. The seminar will include a panel of presenters followed by discussion and then a light refreshments. Tickets cost $10. Register online at info or phone 09 520 5295. Please circulate this invitation among your networks.

Wednesday, August 14, 7-9pm, St Colomba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby

A social justice forum on youth and employment. “Walk Alongside: Meaningful Work for the Young”. Guest Speakers: Cathy Bi, Caritas Aotearoa; Sarah Thompson, Auckland Action Against Poverty. For more information see: maryb

Thursday, Asugust 15, 5.45pm, National Party Electoral Office, Great North Rd, Henderson. (Opposite Corban Winery)

Paula Bennett is having another public meeting next Thursday. Last time she held one protesters outnumbered her supporters and the general public combined. Let’s try and outdo that,and show her what we think of her welfare ‘reforms’.

Sunday August 18, 2013, 2.00pm, Baptist Church Hall, Cnr Port Road and Mayfair Ave, Whangamata

TOO PRECIOUS TO MINE Whangamata and District – the next Waihi?! Public Information Meeting. Hear from Waihi residents about the realities of toxic gold mining and the negative impacts on property values.

Get updated on the threat to the Whangamata area including Parakiwai, Onemana, Pauanui and Opoutere and what we can do to protect this special area from this boom and bust industry. Speakers include: Rob McCarthy, Waihi resident and property agent (REAA2008), Collette Spalding, Waihi resident and Distressed Residents’ Action Team Coordinator & Catherine Delahunty MP and long time advocate for protection of Coromandel from mining. Maps of areas under threat will be available. Hot drinks and nibbles supplied. Hosted by Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki In conjunction with Earthwatch Whangamata & District – earthwatchwhangamata

Friday, August 23, 7.30pm, OUSA Recreaction Centre (formally Clubs n Socs), Albany Street, Dunedin.

Come and join us in part one of our surveillance film and discussion series! Organsied by Disintermedia.net.nz, The Organisation for Global Nonviolent Action (OGNA) and Students for Free Culture. Currently in Aotearoa/NZ the GCSB bill has disturbing implications for both individual privacy and civil liberties. It gives the state increased powers of surveillance that allow it to be increasingly intrusive and challenge freedom of speech. Beside the fact that it infringes on human rights there is also no evidence of necessity or effectiveness. This kind of activity has been a global trend within the last decade. The series will have three parts: The first week we will focus on moving beyond the problem, and lay out a vision of where we want to go. The film will be “V FOR VENDETTA”. The second week we will focus on the problem and the challenges of reaching our end goal. The film will be “WE LIVE IN PUBLIC”. And finally we will focus on possible solutions to the issue and what action we can take. The film will be “FREE THE NETWORK”. We aim to create a space where anyone can come and openly discuss important issues that have an impact on our society. Through discussion we aim to find solutions to global problems , and afterwards turn our proposed solutions into action. We see this discussion as an opportunity for people to clarify their own ideas as well as present and be exposed to possible solutions.

Monday, August 26, 6pm, Case Room 3, Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland

Narratives for Auckland 2 – Building Liveable Cities. I would like to invite you to the second seminar in our Narratives for Auckland Series. The ingredients of a liveable city (affordable housing, modern public transport, great public spaces, urban renewal and the celebration of creative diversity) cannot be delivered by the market. It takes many hands working with councils, communities and the private sector. Phil Twyford MP will discuss the role of government in facing these challenges, Denise Bijoux and Paul Grimshaw will outline what they learned on good urban development from their recent visit to Seattle, Victoria and Portland. Phil Twyford is Labour’s spokesperson on Housing, Auckland Issues and he is Associate Environment spokesperson with a focus on cities. Phil is the Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, and was first elected to Parliament in 2008. Before politics he spent 15 years with the international humanitarian organisation Oxfam. Denise Bijoux works in community-led development to create effective models of partnership, participatory community development, sustainable healthy housing, placemaking and Asset Based Development. She has worked with Inspiring Communities & manages the Neighbourhoods Programme for Beacon Pathway. Denise led the study tour to North America. Paul Grimshaw is a lawyer with 25 years experience who has specialises in construction disputes and Building Code compliance issues. Over the last 10 years he has acted for approximately 6,000 owners who have been affected by the leaky building disaster. His experience has provided him with valuable insight in to the current state of housing in New Zealand.

And more … as a follow-up session for activists for community level organising, there is a workshop, Thursday 29th August 6pm at the Polish Society Room, Morningside. Jim Diers on “The local is everything in the lively city” $20 cover charge + lite food + a bar. See Jim here http//www.neighborpower.org/ and here http//www.abcdinstitute.org/faculty/diers Warm regards, Phil Harington, For the New Zealand Fabian Society

JOIN THE 2013 SOLIDARITY BRIGADE TO VENEZUELA – DECEMBER 4-13, 2013

Witness a people’s revolution in action. The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s 14th international solidarity brigade to Venezuela this December is a very special opportunity to observe, learn about and be inspired by the Bolivarian revolution that is transforming Latin America and challenging the greed and exploitation of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible.

Since 1998, when the late Hugo Chavez was first elected president, the Bolivarian revolution has achieved remarkable things by putting control of Venezuela’s politics and economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges created by Chavez’s death last March and the right-wing’s campaign to undermine new President Nicolas Maduro, this people-power driven revolution continues to flourish and defy all attempts by the imperialism-backed opposition to destroy it.

The brigade itinerary is being planned in consultation with our partners in Venezuela, but during the 10-day visit, participants will:

• visit social missions, communal councils and communes, as well as production cooperatives, public health and education services, sustainable development projects, community controlled media stations, and women’s and Indigenous organisations and projects; and

• meet with a wide range of grassroots organisations, community activists, trade unions and government representatives to learn more about the “socialism of the 21st century” being created by the Venezuelan people; and

• spend time in the capital, Caracas, and travel to a regional area of Venezuela.

Brigade registration and costs

The registration deadline for the 2013 brigade is September 1, 2013. Accommodation, transport within Venezuela and English-Spanish translation throughout the brigade will be organised for all participants by the AVSN.

Participants will need to book their own international airfares. Please do not purchase your tickets before the registration deadline of September 1.

In addition to your international airfare, you will need to budget for approximately $1200. This will cover your brigade registration fee ($500 for waged workers or $350 for students/pensioners), and your food, transport and (shared) accommodation in Venezuela.

To register or for more information: EMAIL: brigades

www.venezuelasolidarity.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROCHOICE HIGHWAY

Many thanks to all for a great 24 July Auckland launch of Fighting to Choose: The Abortion Rights Struggle in New Zealand. The follow-up book tour-cum-roadshow, Prochoice Highway, kicks off next month, and runs till the end of the year. If you’d like to follow the Highway via occasional email updates, this link will take you to a page where you can sign up. Otherwise your in-box will be left in peace from now on (unless, that is, you already happen to be a subscriber). Ngā mihi nui, Alison McCulloch

COROMANDEL WATCHDOG

Please see attached our Winter Newsletter. It has been a busy year for Hauraki/Coromandel with the Manaia campaign, closely followed by the Regatta and most recently the protest to protect Parakiwai, as well as expanding threats of mining in areas that are totally inappropriate. The government continue to present short-sighted committment to facilitating the mineral industry over and above communities and the environment. Thank you for being part of protecting the Coromandel, we know that communities deserve better than short-term unsustainable economic solutions and together we can save the Coromandel from this. Do not hesitate to get in touch with your ideas and/or to volunteer your time.

Kind Regards, Renee Annan, Coordinator, Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki. m: 0220181764 www.watchdog.org.nz Newsletter: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18076151/Newsletter%20Winter%202013%20for%20email.pdf

ROGER AWARD

Nominations are open for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa – New Zealand in 2013. Download a nomination form here http://bit.ly/13RBjuT

DAVID ROVICS TOUR DOWN UNDER

Hi folks in aotearoa, Five weeks before I land in Christchurch, and then ramble around the south and north islands of New Zealand, before then going to tour Australia, starting in Perth and then moving on to drive from Adelaide to Brisbane, including lots of cities in between, such as Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney… At this point the tour is looking good, but there is still a heck of a lot of room for improvement! More gigs on both islands of Aotearoa and in the smaller cities anywhere in southeastern Australia would be very, very welcome indeed. I hope to hear from some of you who might be up for organizing something, and I hope to see many of you on the upcoming tour! Please let people know about all this if you see fit. That’s the only way this works, I’ve discovered… Details of what’s definite so far below and of course on my website…

Saturday, August 17th: The Free House, 95 Collingwood Street, Nelson

Monday, August 19th: Doors open at 6 pm, show starts at 8 pm! Puppies, Wellington

Friday, August 23rd: Old Stone Butter Factory, 8 Butter Factory Lane, Whangarei

Saturday, August 24th: Thirsty Dog, Auckland

LIVING WAGE TO FEATURE AT LOCAL ELECTIONS

Candidates will be asked by communities to step up for a Living Wage at this year’s local body elections in Auckland, Wellington and beyond. The Living Wage Movement will hold seven meetings in Auckland with communities that want to see employees and contracted workers at Auckland Council paid a Living Wage. Living Wage Aotearoa NZ will join with the following Auckland communities to call for a Living Wage and to support other critical issues that really matter to their communities:

Unions @ Papatoetoe Cosi Club | August 22, 4-6pm

Women @ Columbus Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby | September 3, 6-8pm

Youth @ Auckland University quad | September 4, 12.30-1.30pm

Migrant and Refugees @ Mays Rd Memorial Hall | September 7, 4-6pm

Faith-based groups @ Columbus Centre, Ponsonby | September 10, 7-9pm

West Auckland communities @ Tuvalu Church, Aetna Pl | September 18, 6-8pm

Pacific Communities @ Pacific Island Church Otara | October 4, 5-7pm

And for Wellington they are:

St Peters on Willis, 7-9pm, Monday, 23 September

Victoria University, 1pm, 25 September

Pacific Islander Presbyterian Church, Newtown, 2-4pm, Saturday 28 September

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Deaf Society heartbroken by club building’s demolition http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9018724/Deaf-Society-heartbroken-by-club-buildings-demolition

Northland Hapu fight for water rights

Experts appalled as literacy rates continue to flatline http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/9006588/Experts-appalled-as-literacy-rates-continue-to-flatline

Flatlining Literacy, What to Blame? http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/flatlining-literacy-what-to-blame.html

NZ fails environment tests http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10909645

Dirty words: (re)distribution http://mauistreet.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/the-maori-economy-development-and.html

The Maori Economy – A Fanciful Notion http://www.putatara.net/2013/08/the-maori-economy-a-fanciful-notion/

“The problem gambler”: Key & SkyCity http://thestandard.org.nz/the-problem-gambler-key-skycity/

NZ – FONTERRA SCANDAL

The ideological basis of the ‘Fonterror’ scandal http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10909903

Chinese Commentary: New Zealand needs to start building trust in the long-term http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2013-08-05/content_9769307.html

Fonterra Contamination Scandal: “An open secret”, “from the start” – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/08/08/fonterra-contamination-scandal-an-open-secret-from-the-start/#sthash.HyAl6esy.dpuf

The enemy of our enemy is not necessarily our friend By James Ritchie – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/08/09/the-enemy-of-our-enemy-is-not-necessarily-our-friend/#sthash.xEoOQrsA.dpuf

Judith Collins accused of cover-up in Bain case – http://www.3news.co.nz/Judith-Collins-accused-of-cover-up-in-Bain-case/tabid/423/articleID/307850/Default.aspx#ixzz2bWn2pHjv

Court told Collins was ‘biased’ over Bain compo http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9010175/Court-told-Collins-was-biased-over-Bain-compo

Fonterra fined $900k for China price fixing http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10909468

NZ – GCSB

 

Changes to spy bill fail to allay fears http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10909154

Spy access to NZ used as bargaining tool http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10910701

Lawyer hits back at PM’s attack http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9022895/Lawyer-hits-back-at-PMs-attack

Key’s Yemen claim ‘plausible’ http://www.3news.co.nz/Keys-Yemen-claim-plausible/tabid/1607/articleID/308105/Default.aspx

New Zealand’s part in global spy ring http://www.radiolive.co.nz/New-Zealands-part-in-global-spy-ring/tabid/721/articleID/37167/Default.aspx

Hypocrisy in the House: GCSB Bill http://thestandard.org.nz/hypocrisy-in-the-house-gcsb-bill/

The Surveillance State – The GCSB Bill, surveillance legislation and debacle http://www.putatara.net/2013/08/the-surveillance-state/

NZ – SPYING ON JOURNALISTS

Teapot tapes: Peters could have faced prosecution http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10909958

Jessica Williams: What it’s like to be spied on. http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Jessica-Williams-Privacy-Security-and-Blurred-Lines/tabid/721/articleID/37152/Default.aspx

NZ – TEINA PORA CASE

 

Peter Williams QC “release Pora” – Audio http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Peter-Williams-QC-release-Pora/tabid/506/articleID/37162/Default.aspx

It’s time: Free Teina Pora By Martyn Bradbury http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/08/08/its-time-free-teina-pora/

PM ‘inquisitive’ of rape case http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9008749/PM-inquisitive-of-rape-case

John Banks: Pora case ‘travesty of justice’ http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Banks-Pora-case-travesty-of-justice/tabid/423/articleID/307844/Default.aspx

NZ – POVERTY AND INEQUALITY

The widening gap: perceptions of poverty and income inequalities and implications for health and social outcomes http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/journals-and-magazines/social-policy-journal/spj37/37-perceptions-of-poverty-and-income-inequalities.html

The Rich List and the politics of hate http://rdln.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/the-rich-list-and-the-politics-of-hate/

The health effects of a cold home http://www.3news.co.nz/The-health-effects-of-a-cold-home/tabid/817/articleID/308023/Default.aspx

Max Wallace & Robert Nola: Asset rich churches should pay fair tax http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10909537

NZ – ECONOMY

Unemployment rises more than expected http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9012504/Unemployment-rises-more-than-expected

Unemployment up. Wages flat. What recovery? http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1308/S00098/unemployment-up-wages-flat-what-recovery.htm

IT’S OUR FUTURE NZ – TPPA NEWS BULLETIN #37, 6 AUGUST 2013 http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=85396e0e71&e=4d57751fda

All our eggs are in one breakable basket By John Minto – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/08/07/all-our-eggs-are-in-one-breakable-basket/#sthash.YPy1sg2p.dpuf

Blackmail & Corporate Welfare – Government Plays Monkey To Rio Tinto’s Organ Grinder http://christchurch.scoop.co.nz/?p=14555

Owning a home an impossible dream http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/9010538/Owning-a-home-an-impossible-dream

NZ – WORKRIGHTS

 

CTU welcomes H&S changes http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1308/S00089/ctu-welcomes-hs-changes.htm

4-day week as Kiwi Rail tender lost http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/267740/4-day-week-kiwi-rail-tender-lost

Struggling mum backs living-wage call http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9010494/Struggling-mum-backs-living-wage-call

Helen Kelly: Work – its precarious http://thestandard.org.nz/work-its-precarious/

More jobs to go in smelter revamp http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9009999/More-jobs-to-go-in-smelter-revamp

Mines union calls for independent inspectors http://www.3news.co.nz/Mines-union-calls-for-independent-inspectors/tabid/1607/articleID/308136/Default.aspx

Simon Bridges pays lip service http://thejackalman.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/simon-bridges-pays-lip-service.html

STATS OF THE WEEK

“This year’s NBR Rich List is bigger and richer than ever before with the total minimum net worth of members now at $47.8 billion, an increase of $3.5 billion on last year’s list. Add the small group of New Zealand-based international billionaires on the Rich List and the figure climbs to $60.4 billion, an all time record.” NBR http://rdln.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/the-rich-list-and-the-politics-of-hate/

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

FEATURES

ALBA leaders push greater unity, social mov’ts at summit – See more at: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54700#sthash.qXNvi8eh.dpuf

Sanjay Gupta: We have been Systematically Misled on Dangers of Marijuana http://www.juancole.com/2013/08/systematically-dangers-marijuana.html

Kids These Days: The Youth Politics Nobody Was Expecting http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/13427/kids-these-days_the-youth-politics-nobody-was-expe

Interview: ‘Ask the wrong people about drone deaths and you can be killed’ http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2013/08/01/interview-ask-the-wrong-people-about-drone-deaths-and-you-can-be-killed/

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

We’re All Being Poisoned by Deregulated Capitalism http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/18045-were-all-being-poisoned-by-deregulated-capitalism

LAND, LABOUR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Barbecuing the Planet: With Fracking, we’ll go on investing 3x in Hydrocarbons what we will in renewables (Klare) http://www.juancole.com/2013/08/barbecuing-hydrocarbons-renewables.html

CULTURAL DISSENT

Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal

Radical wormholes: our favourite science fiction http://www.redpepper.org.uk/radical-wormholes-our-favourite-science-fiction/

Other worlds are possible: science fiction authors roundtable http://www.redpepper.org.uk/other-worlds-are-possible-science-fiction-authors-roundtable/

Mahmoud Darwish: Iraq’s Night is Long http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/13466/mahmoud-darwish_iraqs-night-is-long

AUSTRALIA

Australia’s asylum debate viewed from Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/07/refugee-camp-australia-dadaab

Refugee Myths http://notwithmyvote.org.au/refugee-myths

Unions split from Labor on PNG solution http://m.afr.com/p/national/politics/unions_split_from_labor_on_png_solution_uJZfprGdlwrN04X0lNPZ9L

Australia Has $16 Minimum Wage and is the Only Rich Country to Dodge the Global Recession http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/australia_has_16_minimum_wage_and_is_the_only_rich_country_to_dodge_the_global_recession/

The billionaire democracy that is Australia https://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-boyle/the-billionaire-democracy-that-is-australia/10151770567409631

BRAZIL

Mega-Events, Mega-Businesses, Mega-Protests in Brazil http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/859.php

EGYPT

“The Army Is on the Edge” – Mohamed ElBaradei calls for reconciliation before the violence in Egypt’s streets spirals out of control. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2013/08/mohamed_elbaradei_interview_egypt_s_vice_president_on_gen_sisi_mohamed_morsi.html

Egyptian Revolution Derailed, Contained http://www.palestinechronicle.com/egyptian-revolution-derailed-contained/

Brothers and Officers: A History of Pacts http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/9765/brothers-and-officers_a-history-of-pacts

GERMANY

German Politicians Take Aim at the Euro http://www.globalresearch.ca/german-politicians-take-aim-at-the-euro/5345367

GREECE

SYRIZA: The Great Social and Political Movement of Subversion http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/860.php

Greece’s food crisis: families face going hungry during summer shutdown http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/06/greece-food-crisis-summer-austerity

INDIA

Indian villagers defeat British billionaire over plans to mine sacred mountain http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/10234314/Indian-villagers-defeat-British-billionaire-over-plans-to-mine-sacred-mountain.html

JAPAN

You Won’t BELIEVE What’s Going On at Fukushima Right Now http://nuclear-news.net/2013/08/06/you-wont-believe-whats-going-on-at-fukushima-right-now/

MEXICO

Zapatistas celebrate 10 years of autonomy with ‘escuelita’ http://roarmag.org/2013/08/escuelita-zapatista-10-year-autonomy/

MOROCCO

Migrants in Morocco: ‘Go Home or Face Death’http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/13463/migrants-in-morocco_go-home-or-face-death

PACIFIC

Scoop Book Review: Mekim Nius South Pacific Media http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00253.htm

PALESTINE

 

Israel’s Bedouin citizens appeal for protection http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1308/S00056/israels-bedouin-citizens-appeal-for-protection.htm

In Israel’s “democracy,” protests by Palestinian citizens face police brutality http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/jalal-abukhater/israels-democracy-protests-palestinian-citizens-face-police-brutality

Brutality is ‘in my veins’ says former Israeli soldier http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/brutality-is-in-my-veins-says-former-israeli-soldier/

Kerry’s Success Worse than His Failure http://www.palestinechronicle.com/kerrys-success-worse-than-his-failure/

PHILIPPINES

Dutch activist in Sona protest leaves Philippines http://globalnation.inquirer.net/82693/dutch-activist-in-sona-protest-leaves-philippines

Rights groups condemn deportation, blacklisting of Dutch activist – See more at: http://bulatlat.com/main/2013/08/08/rights-groups-condemn-deportation-blacklisting-of-dutch-activist-2/#sthash.8J96lUCB.dpuf

SPAIN

Mondragon: The Loving Society That Is Our Inevitable Future http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/mondragon_the_loving_society_that_is_our_inevitable_future/

UK

Neoliberalism, the grassroots and the People’s Assembly – See more at: http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/163-resisting-austerity/16589-neoliberalism-the-grassroots-and-the-peoples-assembly

Zero-hours contracts will not create a sustainable economy http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/09/zero-hours-contracts-lousy-recovery

USA

Alex Rodriguez and the True Pink Elephant (Elefante Rosa) in the Room http://www.thenation.com/blog/175609/alex-rodriguez-and-true-pink-elephant-elefante-rosa-room#axzz2bWcA9m1S

California City Threatens to Use Eminent Domain to Stop Bank Foreclosures http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/6/california_city_threatens_to_use_eminent

US government sues Bank of America – Bank accused of fraud over $850m worth of securities based on mortgages that authorities say were riskier than stated http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/07/government-sues-bank-of-america

Railroaders Go Wobbly, Strike against Firings http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2013/08/railroaders-go-wobbly-strike-against-firings

Judge to serve 28 years after making $2 million for sending black children to jail http://rollingout.com/criminal-behavior/judge-must-serve-28-years-after-making-2-million-for-sending-children-to-jail/

Florida Teen Dies After Being Shocked By Police http://bigstory.ap.org/article/florida-teen-dies-after-being-shocked-police

Onondaga Leader Oren Lyons, Pete Seeger on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/9/onondaga_leader_oren_lyons_pete_seeger

How The Washington Post’s New Owner Aided the CIA, Blocked WikiLeaks & Decimated the Book Industry http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/7/how_the_washington_posts_new_owner

“I Was a Warehouse Wage Slave”: Reporter Mac McClelland on Life Inside the Online Shipping Machine http://www.democracynow.org/2013/8/7/i_was_a_warehouse_wage_slave

Wall Street plunders Detroit while pensioners take blame https://systemicdisorder.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/wall-street-plunders-detroit/

USA – FAST FOOD WORKERS REVOLT

I work for $7.40 an hour at Burger King. What do you want to know? I have never made over $15,000 annually. I have worked as a cook, cashier and every position but management for three years http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/06/burger-king-fast-food-worker-strike

Slow Progress for Fast-Food Workers http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/fast-food-workers-2013-08.pdf

Fast food walkouts fight inequality http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/09/opinion/milkman-fast-food-wages/index.html

USA – SPYING SCANDAL

MATT DAMON: OBAMA ‘BROKE UP WITH ME’ http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2013/08/09/Damon-Obama-Broke-Up-With-Me

NSA loophole allows warrantless search for US citizens’ emails and phone calls http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/09/nsa-loophole-warrantless-searches-email-calls

The Manning Verdict: Obama’s Defining Injustice http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/bradley-manning-verdict-use-of-espionage-act-shows-us-hypocrisy-a-914834.html

Obama’s abuse of the Espionage Act is modern-day McCarthyism http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/06/obama-abuse-espionage-act-mccarthyism

John Pilger: The courage of Bradley Manning will inspire others to seize their moment of truth http://johnpilger.com/articles/the-courage-of-bradley-manning-will-inspire-others-to-seize-their-moment-of-truth

Email service used by Snowden shuts itself down, warns against using US-based companies http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/09/lavabit-shutdown-snowden-silicon-valley

The Business of America is Spying on America (Engelhardt) http://www.juancole.com/2013/08/business-america-engelhardt.html

Snowden, Greenwald and Wikileaks are winning – Americans are becoming more concerned that government ‘anti-terror’ programmes are actually restricting civil liberties. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/08/201387957162873.html

A journalist finally freed – Leela Yellesetty recounts the story of a Yemeni journalist whose reports about U.S. drone strikes on his country led to his torture and incarceration. http://socialistworker.org/2013/08/08/journalist-finally-freed

Stephen Colbert – Enjoy the Police State